Clearwater Vacation Rental & Airbnb Injury Lawyer
If you were seriously injured while staying in an Airbnb, Vrbo, or other vacation rental in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Your trip to Clearwater or Tampa Bay was supposed to be filled with sunshine and memories, not hospitals and insurance calls. If you were hurt in an Airbnb, Vrbo, or other vacation rental because someone failed to keep the property safe, you deserve answers and accountability.
At Light & Wyatt, our vacation rental & Airbnb injury lawyers take your recovery personally. We’ll handle the legal battle, deal with the insurance companies, and fight for every dollar you deserve. With more than 30 years of experience protecting victims’ rights, we hold negligent hosts, cleaning services, and rental platforms accountable, so you can focus on healing.
Why Hire Us?
- Personal Service: We treat every client like family.
- Experience: Protecting victims’ rights across Florida since 1990.
- Track Record: Millions recovered for injured clients.
You deserve a law firm that knows how to handle complex vacation rental cases, from unsafe stairs and faulty decks to hidden mold, electrical hazards, and pool accidents.
Call Light & Wyatt at 727-228-6146. to schedule your free consultation. No fees unless we win.
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Practice Areas
Our Attorneys Won’t Settle for Less Than Your Case Is Worth
Whether your accident happened in a beachfront condo, luxury Airbnb, or a rented vacation home, rental property owners and managers have a legal duty to keep guests safe. Unfortunately, many of them fail to fix dangerous conditions or warn visitors about hazards, leading to preventable injuries and even deaths. When Florida property owners fail in their duty of care to guests, our premises liability attorneys step in.
When you hire Light & Wyatt, we:
Provide the personalized attention your case deserves
You’re never just another case number to us. We listen to your story, answer your questions, and guide you through every step of the legal process. You’ll know where your case stands and what comes next.
Uncover crucial details other lawyers miss
We investigate property records, inspection reports, and maintenance logs to determine what went wrong and who’s to blame. Our attorneys often find code violations, ignored safety complaints, and insurance coverage other firms overlook.
Maximize your financial recovery
We negotiate aggressively with insurers and property owners to recover every dollar you deserve. Studies show victims represented by skilled attorneys receive nearly three times more compensation than those who go it alone.
Common Causes of Vacation Rental Injuries in Florida
Vacation rentals often lack the same safety standards as hotels or resorts. Our law firm handles claims involving:
Broken or poorly maintained stairs, decks, and railings
Slip and fall accidents due to wet floors or uneven surfaces
Carbon monoxide leaks and electrical fires
Pool and hot tub accidents
Balcony or structural collapses
Inadequate lighting or security
Dog bites or animal attacks
Mold, bed bugs, and sanitation hazards
If your injury occurred while staying at an Airbnb, Vrbo, or similar property, you may have multiple parties responsible, including the host, cleaning service, maintenance company, or the rental platform itself.
Recovering Compensation After a Florida Vacation Rental Injury
Property owners and rental platforms are quick to deny responsibility after an injury, often blaming the guest or claiming the hazard was “open and obvious.” Don’t fall for their tactics.
At Light & Wyatt, our lawyers will:
Investigate your case
We collect maintenance records, lease agreements, and insurance policies to identify all sources of liability. We also secure photos, surveillance footage, and witness statements before evidence disappears.
Identify all liable parties
Depending on your case, we may pursue claims against the property owner, management company, cleaning contractor, or even the platform (such as Airbnb or Vrbo) if its policies contributed to unsafe conditions.
Handle negotiations for you
Our attorneys deal directly with insurers and defense counsel, protecting you from lowball settlements and tactics designed to minimize payouts.
Take your case to trial if necessary
If fair compensation isn’t offered, we’ll present your case before a jury. We don’t back down until justice is served.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Florida Vacation Rental Injury Case?
After a serious injury in a vacation rental, the financial, physical, and emotional toll can be overwhelming. Florida premises liability law allows you to recover compensation for your economic losses and the personal suffering you’ve endured because of someone else’s negligence. Sometimes, punitive damages are also awarded.
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Property damage and travel costs
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
Punitive Damages
In cases involving extreme negligence, such as known code violations or concealed safety hazards, Florida courts may award punitive damages to punish wrongdoing and deter future misconduct.
What to Do After an Airbnb or Vacation Rental Injury in Clearwater
Once the shock of your accident has passed, and you’ve received initial medical care, the next steps you take can have a major impact on your ability to recover compensation. Important evidence can disappear quickly, and property owners, insurance companies, and even rental platforms often start building their defense immediately. Taking the right actions now can help protect your rights and strengthen your claim.
Document Your Recovery and the Scene
If possible, gather any photos or videos that were taken of the property, the hazardous condition, and your injuries. If friends or family were with you when the incident happened, ask them to write down what they remember. Keep a daily journal describing your pain, limitations, and medical treatment. These details can make a powerful difference later in your case.
Notify the Property Owner or Rental Platform
Send a written notice to the host, property manager, or rental platform (such as Airbnb or Vrbo) about your injury and the unsafe condition that caused it. Request copies of any internal reports that may have been filed. Written documentation helps establish that the owner or manager was made aware of the issue and gives us a clear starting point for your claim.
Keep All Evidence and Paperwork Organized
Preserve your booking confirmations, rental agreements, communication with the host, hospital and medical bills, and proof of lost wages. Don’t repair or discard any damaged personal items. They may serve as evidence of the incident’s severity.
Avoid Direct Communication With Insurance Adjusters
By the time you return home, or maybe even while you’re still recovering in the hospital, the property owner’s insurance company may already be trying to contact you. Their goal is to limit what they pay, not to help you recover. Politely decline recorded statements and direct all communication to your attorney. This ensures nothing you say is twisted or taken out of context.
Contact an Experienced Florida Vacation Rental Injury Lawyer
The sooner you have legal representation, the sooner you can stop worrying about deadlines, paperwork, and insurance pressure. Our attorneys can step in immediately to investigate, preserve evidence, and communicate with all parties on your behalf. Florida law generally gives victims two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but acting early gives you the best chance at full recovery.
FAQs About Florida Vacation Rental & Airbnb Injury Claims
If you or your family member suffered injuries while you were vacationing in Florida, you probably have a lot of questions. We encourage you to contact our firm to set up a free consultation so we can help clear things up for you. In the meantime, here are our answers to the most common questions clients in similar situations ask.
Can I sue Airbnb or Vrbo for my injuries?
Maybe. In some cases, the rental platform may share liability if it failed to vet properties properly or enforce safety policies. Our attorneys can review your booking agreement and platform terms to identify your legal options.
Does the host’s homeowner’s insurance cover my injuries?
Often yes, but insurance coverage depends on the policy. Many Airbnb hosts carry supplemental liability insurance, while others rely on personal homeowner coverage. We’ll identify all policies that may apply to your case.
What if I signed a waiver or “hold harmless” clause?
A signed waiver doesn’t automatically protect a negligent host or property manager. If gross negligence or code violations caused your injury, the waiver may not be enforceable.
How much does it cost to hire a vacation rental injury lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Your injuries shouldn’t define your future, and they certainly shouldn’t destroy your finances. Whether you were injured in a beachfront Airbnb in Clearwater or a short-term rental in Miami, the lawyers at Light & Wyatt are ready to fight for you.
Call 727-228-6146 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.